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Surprise in men’s 94kg – no surprise in women’s 75kg

A very close race was in sight in the 94kg where all 11 lifters in Group A represented a similarly high standard. Accordingly, the competition was full of turns and surprises, whereby top favourite, 85-kg world champion OKULOV Artem (RUS) soon left the scene with a lowly result and taking only 3 attempts in all, due to a 2-weeks old injury. Two Lithuanian competitors, DIDZBALIS Aurimas (Olympic bronze) and STANULIS Zygimantas vied for the top positions but these were eventually captured by the surprise man of the category, KLIMONOV Egor of Russia, confidently beating Kazakhstan's SYBAY Rustem by one kilo on total (383kg - 382kg). In third place, another unexpected athlete: Rio 4th SUMPRADIT Sarat of Thailand. In contrast to the men's 94kg, the ladies' 75kg category revealed significant differences between the contenders. The biggest gap could be noted between Olympic champion from PRK, RIM Jong Sim and the rest of the field. RIM did not disappoint and started both movements when all the others have done their jobs. In snatch, RIM finished with 120kg, 3 kilos short of the Universiade record, and in the jerk she left no doubt about her dominance, totalling a comfortable 260kg, 20 kilos more than the next best.  Behind her, TPE YAO Chi-Ling was fighting hard to please the spectators but in the end had to settle for bronze, ceding the silver to NAUMAVA Darya of

Ulanov wins and takes courageous world record attempt

In the men's 85kg category at the Taipei 2017 Universiade, KARAPETIAN Andranik, the Armenian who had suffered an elbow dislocation at the Rio Olympics, pulled off with a splendid 170kg snatch, 5 kilos more than the next best, ULANOV Denis of KAZ. In the second act, however, ULANOV was superior and secured the win with 200kg which he made in a correction. Already Champion, ULANOV surprised by asking for a 221kg world record weight for his third attempt. Eventually, this weight is yet to be mastered by the Kazakh, but his effort was certainly commendable. The bronze went to JANG Yeonhak from

Local girl snaps second TPE gold medal from Kazakh favourite

W69kg: GORICHEVA Karina KAZ, Olympic bronze medallist of Rio in 63kg was in the lineup of the 69kg and until the last lift she was hoping to win. But HUNG Wan-Ting TPE, former Universiade runner-up, in an amazing effort worked off 7kg of disadvantage from the snatch and triumphed with 227kg on the Kazakh's 226kg. JONG Chun Hui PRK took the bronze. In a joint press conference of both TPE Universiade champions, with 58kg teammate star KUO Hsing-Chun, Mr. CHANG Chao-Kuo, Honorary Vice President of IWF, and Mrs. YANG Po-Lien, CTWA President expressed their pleasure and pride over the splendid victories of their fledglings on home soil at the largest sporting event Taiwan has ever

Kuo Hsing-chun receives prize money for breaking world record

Taiwanese weightlifter Kuo Hsing-chun received NT$1 million (US$32,997) from the Minister of Education Pan Wen-chung on Tuesday for breaking a Clean and Jerk world record a day earlier. On Monday, Kuo took the lead with a Snatch of 107 kilograms and then, after having already clinched a Gold medal, nailed a Clean and Jerk of 142 kg on her final lift of the night to break the world record of 141 kg set by Qiu Hongmei of China in April 2007 during the Asian Weightlifting Championships. For the Gold medal win, she will be awarded another NT$900,000. Kuo teared up when receiving the NT$1 million award along with her coach Lin Jing-neng, saying "it was the people of Taiwan who helped me lift 142 kilograms." The Gold medalist made a similar remark during the competition on Monday, calling her fans "the mat that gave me strength" after she forgot to bring the mat she usually uses during competitions. Kuo said she views weightlifting as a coach, a parent and a friend through which she continues to search for the meaning of life. Kuo, who is a decorated weightlifter, has previously donated her winnings to her former high school in Taitung County and once bought an ambulance for Taitung Hospital. She chose to donate an ambulance after a weightlifting injury in 2014 left her wheelchair-bound for a month. Kuo said the accident allowed her to better understand how people feel when waiting for an ambulance. Growing up in a low-income neighborhood, she is now giving back to her community and will once again be donating her prize from this most recent win to help children in need, Kuo said. She cites her coach as the one who has taught her the importance of being thankful and continues to express her gratitude by giving back to the local community. Source: CNA, Focus Taiwan News

EWF European Youth Training Camp & Scientific Lectures

An Anti-Doping Seminar was organized from 14-19 Aug, 2017 in Ventspils Olympic Centre Latvia at the EWF North Europe Training Camp. The seminar was supported by the Latvian Anti-Doping Committee and Mrs. Vieda Lusa from the committee gave two hours of lecture all about aspects of doping. Athletes and coaches had the chance to receive information and refresh their knowledge in the field of Anti-Doping. During the round table meeting, coaches and athletes evaluated the training camp and seminar. The training camp was finished by the certificate ceremony. The next training camp and seminar will be organized in Berlin, Germany on 4-9th September, 2017. Source: Colin Buckley, Chairman EWF Coaching Research & Scientific

Kazakhstan and PRK hit further gold medals in Taipei

M77kg: Kazakhstan's KAZOV Aidar, after having been outsnatched by 5kg by Russian IARKIN Viacheslav, eventually cought up in the clean and jerk and beat his opponent with 331kg against the latter's 330kg. W63kg: PRK expectations wer once again met in this category where RIM Un Sim, younger sister of Olympic champion RIM Yong Sim, overwhelmed with 236kg on world championship silver medallist TURIEVA Tima of Russia. Two Universiade records fell again, one in snatch (106kg) and one in total